The Ford Barn

Vanspeed · 02-23-2012, 08:33 PM

I have one on my 29 coupe, thank god but every other model A I have bought has not had one - all 29's. Most pics I see of A's for sale do not have them. Why are they always missing? Why were they taken off in the first place? I would love to get one for my 29 CCPU but man, I cannot spend 200 on one and I would never run a reproduction. Is there a box of them stashed away in some junkyard somewhere??

700rpm · 02-23-2012, 08:55 PM

Easy to steal.

Tom Wesenberg · 02-23-2012, 08:58 PM

Half the owner's don't know there should be one, but I can't explain the other half either. I too have wondered why so many are gone.

Vanspeed · 02-23-2012, 09:03 PM

Easy to steal maybe but then so would be the bumper clamps??

real550A · 02-23-2012, 09:25 PM

When you "bump" something with Model A bumpers, the two bands spread and
shedding the center clamp is the result.

Popeye31 · 02-23-2012, 09:50 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Possibaly vibration made them fall off remember there werent many smooth roads back then.

darrylkmc · 02-23-2012, 10:06 PM

Because it does not hold the bumper on, when they get loose they are either removed or fall off.
When the bumper clamps work loose someone will tighten them.

Darryl in Fairbanks

BILL WILLIAMSON · 02-23-2012, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Popeye31

Possibaly vibration made them fall off remember there werent many smooth roads back then.

And NO Loctite, Model A's best friend! Wish they made clear Loctite. Bill W. (Is using Loctite "PROPER?")<<<<<This is for my "Buddy."

Vanspeed · 02-23-2012, 10:27 PM

very good replies guys, you are most likely right. Then we should be looking alongside roadsides, especially old roads. For real though, it is a good idea. I have found many old things along side old roads.

SteveB31 · 02-23-2012, 10:28 PM

I was looking at photos of Model A's taken in the mid 1930s. 80% of the cars are already missing the center bumper clamp (bumper medalions). Reason- they fall off easy. Look at old photos (in the MAFCA and MARC magazines) form the 30s and 40s and you will see what I mean. Remember the roads were rutted muddy bumpy roads.

Ted in MN · 02-23-2012, 10:38 PM

They were not taken off they fall off when one bumper blade is bumped causing the bracket on the rear of the bumper to twist off.

Fred K-OR · 02-23-2012, 10:58 PM

Does any have a picture of one of these? Being new at this business I don't know if I know what they should look like. I have something on my 29 coupe in the center of the front bumper but I am not sure if it is one of these. So a picture would help out the old guy if anyone has one a picture. Thanks

Jerry Parr WI · 02-23-2012, 11:34 PM

My guess is two reasons. As someone said they are easily knocked off. During it's life I would guess most Model A's pushed several other cars and it was an easy fatality. Second it is decorative not a service part. When it was knocked off there was no need to replace it.

Fred K-OR · 02-24-2012, 12:31 AM

Is this a medallion????

Tudortomnz · 02-24-2012, 12:53 AM

That is a medallion & a half. Rare early version with 'made in USA' or for some Model A's 'made in Canada'. Look after it!
The hitting something, flexing & pinging off of the medallion sounds 100% correct.

phaetonblue · 02-24-2012, 02:10 AM

I think a lot of these medallions were lost alongside the roadways. Roger Kauffman was a member in our Model A club would find these medallions along with other Model A parts while doing road maintenance for the state.

jcheshire31 · 02-24-2012, 04:22 PM

We've had one on the coupe forever and i've always wondered what it was and it's significance. Now that I know, I like it a lot more! Are they rare? And if so, how rare?

Vanspeed · 02-26-2012, 03:35 PM

My coupe still has her original, that is why I started this thread. Great answers so far on such a small trincket.When I see a car with them it makes me value them more. (have no idea why) Maybe we should start a poll and sell how many still have an original medallion on their car, no aftermarkets count.

02-23-2012, 08:33 PM	#1
Vanspeed Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Suttons Bay, Mich. Posts: 3,386	Why are most bumper medallions gone?? I have one on my 29 coupe, thank god but every other model A I have bought has not had one - all 29's. Most pics I see of A's for sale do not have them. Why are they always missing? Why were they taken off in the first place? I would love to get one for my 29 CCPU but man, I cannot spend 200 on one and I would never run a reproduction. Is there a box of them stashed away in some junkyard somewhere?? __________________ *Respecting and Resurrecting Ford Model A's.*

02-23-2012, 08:55 PM	#2
700rpm Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 5,906	Re: Why are most bumper medallions gone?? Easy to steal. __________________ Ray Horton, Portland, OR As you go through life, keep your eye on the donut, not the hole.

02-23-2012, 08:58 PM	#3
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Why are most bumper medallions gone?? Half the owner's don't know there should be one, but I can't explain the other half either. I too have wondered why so many are gone.

02-23-2012, 09:03 PM	#4
Vanspeed Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Suttons Bay, Mich. Posts: 3,386	Re: Why are most bumper medallions gone?? Easy to steal maybe but then so would be the bumper clamps?? __________________ *Respecting and Resurrecting Ford Model A's.*

02-23-2012, 09:25 PM	#5
real550A Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: North Branch, MN. Posts: 161	Re: Why are most bumper medallions gone?? When you "bump" something with Model A bumpers, the two bands spread and shedding the center clamp is the result. __________________ Mike B. Model A's and Porsches since 1957

02-23-2012, 09:50 PM	#6
Popeye31 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Kenner LA Posts: 248	Re: Why are most bumper medallions gone?? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Possibaly vibration made them fall off remember there werent many smooth roads back then. __________________ Live your dreams

02-23-2012, 10:06 PM	#7
darrylkmc Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Fairbanks, Alaska Posts: 767	Re: Why are most bumper medallions gone?? Because it does not hold the bumper on, when they get loose they are either removed or fall off. When the bumper clamps work loose someone will tighten them. Darryl in Fairbanks

02-23-2012, 10:27 PM	#9
Vanspeed Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Suttons Bay, Mich. Posts: 3,386	Re: Why are most bumper medallions gone?? very good replies guys, you are most likely right. Then we should be looking alongside roadsides, especially old roads. For real though, it is a good idea. I have found many old things along side old roads. __________________ *Respecting and Resurrecting Ford Model A's.*

02-23-2012, 10:28 PM	#10
SteveB31 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Englewood, Colorado Posts: 1,372	Re: Why are most bumper medallions gone?? I was looking at photos of Model A's taken in the mid 1930s. 80% of the cars are already missing the center bumper clamp (bumper medalions). Reason- they fall off easy. Look at old photos (in the MAFCA and MARC magazines) form the 30s and 40s and you will see what I mean. Remember the roads were rutted muddy bumpy roads.

02-23-2012, 10:38 PM	#11
Ted in MN Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 74	Re: Why are most bumper medallions gone?? They were not taken off they fall off when one bumper blade is bumped causing the bracket on the rear of the bumper to twist off.

02-23-2012, 10:58 PM	#12
Fred K-OR Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Stayton, Oregon Posts: 3,806	Re: Why are most bumper medallions gone?? Does any have a picture of one of these? Being new at this business I don't know if I know what they should look like. I have something on my 29 coupe in the center of the front bumper but I am not sure if it is one of these. So a picture would help out the old guy if anyone has one a picture. Thanks __________________ Fred Kroon 1929 Std Coupe 1929 Huckster

02-23-2012, 11:34 PM	#13
Jerry Parr WI Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 619	Re: Why are most bumper medallions gone?? My guess is two reasons. As someone said they are easily knocked off. During it's life I would guess most Model A's pushed several other cars and it was an easy fatality. Second it is decorative not a service part. When it was knocked off there was no need to replace it.

02-24-2012, 12:31 AM	#14
Fred K-OR Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Stayton, Oregon Posts: 3,806	Re: Why are most bumper medallions gone?? Is this a medallion???? __________________ Fred Kroon 1929 Std Coupe 1929 Huckster

02-24-2012, 12:53 AM	#15
Tudortomnz Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Canterbury, New Zealand Posts: 1,242	Re: Why are most bumper medallions gone?? That is a medallion & a half. Rare early version with 'made in USA' or for some Model A's 'made in Canada'. Look after it! The hitting something, flexing & pinging off of the medallion sounds 100% correct.

02-24-2012, 02:10 AM	#16
phaetonblue Junior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Dayton, Ohio Posts: 24	Re: Why are most bumper medallions gone?? I think a lot of these medallions were lost alongside the roadways. Roger Kauffman was a member in our Model A club would find these medallions along with other Model A parts while doing road maintenance for the state.

02-24-2012, 04:22 PM	#17
jcheshire31 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 109	Re: Why are most bumper medallions gone?? We've had one on the coupe forever and i've always wondered what it was and it's significance. Now that I know, I like it a lot more! Are they rare? And if so, how rare?

02-26-2012, 03:35 PM	#18
Vanspeed Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Suttons Bay, Mich. Posts: 3,386	Re: Why are most bumper medallions gone?? My coupe still has her original, that is why I started this thread. Great answers so far on such a small trincket.When I see a car with them it makes me value them more. (have no idea why) Maybe we should start a poll and sell how many still have an original medallion on their car, no aftermarkets count. __________________ *Respecting and Resurrecting Ford Model A's.*